The motion sponsor bemoaned the slow response of security agencies to the robbery attacks.
The Senate has called for an immediate investigation by the police and other security agencies into the attacks on banks in Benue State.
This followed a matter of urgent importance raised by the lawmaker representing Benue North Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro, on Tuesday during plenary, citing the lack of intelligence and policing as the reason for the robbery attacks that resulted in the loss of multiple lives at four banks in Otukpo, Benue State.
In his debate, Moro recalled the incident, “Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues I rise to inform you that on the 20th of October, 2023 at about 4:15, it was armageddon let loose as men of the underworld invaded Otukpo, the ancestral hometown of the Idoma people unleashing mayhem in the process.
“On the 20th of October, 2023 the men suspected to be armed robbers killed about eight persons including four security personnel.
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“Armed robbers operated for over one hour with little or no resistance holding the entire town hostage. In addition to the letting of blood, millions of Naira were taken away from the banks.”
The Senate requested the National Emergency Management Agency to offer aid materials for the rehabilitation of the Otukpo police command and those injured while also pleading with the police and other pertinent authorities to solve the mystery behind the attack immediately.
It also observed a minute silence in honor of those who lost their lives during the robbery incident.
Briefing reporters shortly after plenary, Moro wondered why security personnel in Otukpo had no hint about 60 armed men in a convoy of vehicles storming the city to invade four banks despite the presence of several security checkpoints in the state.
He said, “We have several security checkpoints, there is the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have joined the roadblock thing.
We also have the road safety, and the Department of State Services, all of them none of them got a hint that 60 armed men in two Hilux vehicles were coming to invade Otukpo. Where is the intelligence? When the attack happened, none of the agencies could reach out to mobilize a counter.“
